[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JAMES L. BUCKLEY

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, today, I would like to extend best 
wishes to the former Senator from New York, James L. Buckley. One 
hundred years ago today, on the 9th of March, Jim was born the fourth 
of 10 children, just as the Roaring '20s were getting underway. As he 
celebrates his 100th birthday, an impressive milestone by all 
accounts--I am also told he is the oldest living former U.S. Senator 
among us--Barbara and I wish Jim and his family a happy celebration.
  Jim Buckley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1970 as a candidate of 
the Conservative Party, making him the first third party candidate to 
win election to the U.S. Senate in four decades. Representing the State 
of New York in the 92nd through 94th sessions of Congress, he served 
during a rocky period in U.S. history that included the Vietnam and 
Watergate era. Before ever putting his name on the ballot for public 
office, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving our country in 
uniform during World War II. He received his law degree from Yale 
University in 1949 and, from there, pursued a career in the law as an 
attorney and in lawmaking as a U.S. Senator.
  Our congressional service overlapped during the 94th Congress, when I 
was a freshman Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. We didn't 
have the opportunity to serve together here in the upper Chamber. 
Senator Buckley ran for reelection as a Republican in 1976, losing to 
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, with whom I served until his 
retirement in 2001.
  As conservatives, Senator Buckley and I share a commitment to shared 
principles, limited government, sanctity of life, States' rights, and 
safeguarding constitutional rights, including political free speech. In 
fact, his name will be attached for posterity to a landmark decision of 
the U.S. Supreme Court, Buckley v. Valeo. Then-Senator Buckley led a 
coalition of free speech advocates to challenge amendments made to the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 because they interfered with 
First Amendment rights.
  Students of history, political junkies, and legal scholars recognize 
that this case has shaped the landscape of free speech and campaign 
finance for the last five decades. In 1976, the High Court arrived at 
two important conclusions regarding campaign finance laws. On the one 
hand, the Supreme Court found that contribution ceilings on individual 
contributions did not violate the First Amendment. However, in a vote 
of 7-1, it struck down restrictions on campaign expenses and found they 
did violate the First Amendment as an infringement on free expression.
  Following his time in the legislative branch, Senator Buckley went on 
to serve in the Reagan administration in the U.S. State Department. 
From 1982-1985, Senator Buckley served as president of Radio Free 
Europe/Radio Liberty in Germany, essentially a clarion of the airwaves 
fighting communism. From there, he continued his lifelong devotion to 
public service when he was nominated by President Reagan to the U.S. 
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
  Judge Buckley was confirmed by the Senate on December 17, 1985. He 
served for the next 11 years and assumed senior status on August 31, 
1996. I have served on the Senate Judiciary committee every year I have 
been honored to represent Iowa in the Senate, including 6 years as 
chairman. My colleagues here in the Senate understand that I take 
seriously my constitutional role to vet nominees to the Federal bench. 
In our system of checks and balances, I strive to uphold this 
fundamental cornerstone of our democratic republic. Lawmakers write the 
laws and set policy. Judges interpret the laws; they don't exercise 
their value judgments or impose their own policy preferences.
  As Judge Buckley himself said at his portrait ceremony in December of 
2003: ``I hope, though, that my service on this court has been able to 
establish, if nothing else, that it is possible for a person to have 
the strongest views on questions of public policy and still understand 
and observe the sharp distinction between the constitutional role of a 
legislator and that of a judge.''
  I couldn't say it better myself. I salute this great American for his 
public service to our great Nation, from the U.S. military and spanning 
all three branches of the Federal Government. Senior statesman, 
Senator, and judge may not be his most exalted titles. For someone 
whose humility and commitment to family are well known, those honors 
are husband, dad and grandfather. I extend my best wishes to Jim for a 
happy 100th birthday. Thank you for your patriotism, principled 
leadership, and service to America.

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